Monday, August 30, 2010

Review: The Expendables

This classic European mood-piece featured long establishing shots, talky scenes inserted for tone, and searing close ups of tormented characters adrift in a world devoid of action, reduced to lashing out at each other with knives and guns which symbolized the clever, hurtful sarcasm that really wounds. Director Stallone's use of outer violence to mirror inner turmoil was well-intentioned but too subtle to be very effective. Giselle Iti's Sandra was the perfect post-modern, feminist heroine, isolated in a culture that saw her only in terms of gender: general's daughter, revolutionary, nation builder. In a pivotal role, Senyo Amoaku portrayed the Tall Pirate, the Every Man for our own inner tall pirate; that part of us who is always asking, bargaining, threatening hostages with machetes.

In general a thoughtful film to be discussed over espresso and macaroons. All I can say is: bring a hankie.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Link to Read Comics in Public Day

Geek O System alerts us to tomorrow: Read Comics in Public Day. I always thought comic book ads were tough to beat. They're an interesting piece to any business model.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Author Reading on a Hot Afternoon

Yesterday afternoon, my friend Bernadette organized a reading in a private home. About eight authors presented an eclectic mix of poetry and prose. My wife read a short story she's intending to send out. And, despite a five-minute time limit, I got a good response from "Dagon and Jill." (At least the portion I could read in five minutes.) Hot as the surface of Mercury outside, but the air conditioning worked and there were numerous fresh-baked goodies. We stole several small, easily pawnable items from our host but we're caught and asked to return them. This marred the event somewhat, but will make a nice story for the next one.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Fest Control

Belated congrats to director Nathan Ruegger whose film Another Life was accepted into the Temecula Valley International Film Festival. Follow his Hollywood journey at Another Life in Film.

Well Said, Don Roff

Over at Forces of Geek, author Roff offers sage advice on meeting the daily word count. I've encountered many of his pitfalls enroute to my own 1k a day.

My wife and I are away this afternoon to a gathering of fellow writers. There we'll each read a few pages from our various works. (I'll present about 5 minutes worth from the recently purchased "Dagon and Jill.") Nice people, good atmosphere, free food—everything a writer needs.

Featured Post

John P. McCann Sizzle Page

'Twas suggested I post a few episodes of my work in a pleasant spot. I've chosen here. Sadly, not everything I've written has y...